Tuesday, July 18, 2006

DPI, PMK cadre clash in Chidambaram

DPI, PMK cadre clash in Chidambaram - Newindpress.com: "A bust of Ambedkar was reportedly damaged in a violent clash between two groups in Chidambaram on Friday. The groups unleashed terror in the area, damaging huts, two-wheelers and shops in the temple town late on Friday night.

District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi and the Superintendent of Police held a meeting with elders in the town and pacified them on Saturday morning. According to police, a DPI cadre, Sakthivel (18) of Pettai, along with his friends Pravin (18) and Gnaneskumar (23) visited a TASMAC outlet in Chinnakadai Street and purchased a few IMFL bottles at 10 pm on Friday. The trio then went to the shop of Sivaraman, a tailor, and consumed the alcohol.

Later, they had an altercation with Sivaraman. They then attacked the tailor. The supporters of Sivaraman rushed to the shop and rescued him from the DPI men. Gnaneswaran escaped from the place and informed his friends and DPI cadre in Pettai about the clash.

Immediately, more than 15 persons, including a few DPI cadre, reached the tailor’s shop and began attacking Sivaraman and his friends. PMK Town secretary Ramesh and others assembled at the place and attempted to pacify the angry youths.

Later, the DPI and PMK cadre attacked each other. Soon, the DPI men fled the place and took shelter at Pettai. More than 50 persons, including the PMK cadre, chased them and ransacked huts, shops and damaged street lights in Pettai. They also damaged a bust of Ambedkar and several buses.

ASP Pradip Kumar, Inspector Ramalingam and SI K Ambethkar reached the spot soon after the clash erupted between the DPI and the PMK and brought the situation under control.

Collector Bedi reached the place on Saturday morning and held discussions with DPI men, including Kattumanar Koil MLA D Ravikumar and PMK office-bearers. Chidambaram police have registered a case against the DPI and PMK cadre. The police have arrested 12 PMK men, including Saravanan, Karthik, Karunanidhi, Sathish and Anand. They have also detained 14 DPI volunteers, including Somu, Magesh, Gnaneskumar, Chandrababu and Pushparaj.

Activists of the Dalit Panthers of India staging a road roko in front of the Chidambaram town police station on Saturday, demanding the arrest of those responsible for the desecration of Ambedkar statue on Friday night."

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